It had been six months since we had moved across the country to California. I missed my friends every day, but the pain had subsided after I met Samantha, Sam for short.

She had helped me get over the heartbreak of practically leaving my whole life behind me. I told her about all the fun I had in Iowa. Going to diners late at night when I would stay with Amber or my cousins. Biking through forests and parks. Skating on lakes in the winter, which would be hard to do in this hot state.

She took me to the places she enjoyed like the beach that her uncle owned, the various truckstop diners that she would get free waffles and coffee from. She took me to see dolphins in the distance off the pier, and she even took me cliff diving. It was terrifying and I thought I was going to die every time I jumped, but it was exhilarating and I loved it.

Sam made me feel comfortable and like I still had a real home even if it was just with her. She would ask me about my other friends, because she knew I loved talking about them but didn’t want to seem annoying by going on about them non-stop.

Freshman year passed by slowly, and I ended up going back to Iowa for a week to spend Christmas with Amber. She had got a new boyfriend, and I promised him that I would kick his ass if he hurt her. When I went back home with the gifts Amber got me, Sam was waiting with other gifts. Summer came much faster and by then, I had kind of forgotten the pain from leaving and I didn’t miss my friends as much.

Sophomore year was just the same, but without the visit back during the Holidays. Sam and I had made new friends and I felt like leaving here would hurt me again, but I pushed the thought down. Junior year of highschool was different. I had finally realized that I had an attraction to girls, but no matter how hard Sam tried, I wouldn’t date anyone.

Senior year was coming up fast, and I had a decision to make; leave California, my new life and Sam behind to go back home, or break my promise and stay two more years. I hated to do this to my friends back in Iowa, but I couldn’t leave Sam, not yet. She was going through tougher times and I had to be there for her. Besides, when I went back in two years, Sam could come with and I’d still see my friends in town since we had to wait three years to go to college unless we graduated early.

“Hey, Amber.” “Hey! I’ve missed your voice dork. It doesn’t sound happy though. When will you be back.” “Um, that’s the thing. I’m not coming back...yet. I will in two years.” “TWO YEARS?! You promised that you’d be back by Senior year! Do you have any idea how much Lilith and Lorie and I miss you? How much Jax misses you?” “Oh, Jax. I almost forgot about her. Don’t… tell her that. Please. It’s just… I’ve made a lot of new friends and Sam needs me right now.” “Oh yeah? Well, we need you.” Amber hung up and I was left alone with my tears.

“Hey, they’ll get over it. If not, get mad at me for making you stay.” “No, Sam. You are making me stay. I chose to stay because of you. You know that.” “You told me that you had almost forgotten about Jax.” “Yeah, and I feel horrible about it.”

Senior year came and went, I felt depressed most of the time and really only talked to Sam. I finally snapped out my daze when summer came and Amber with it.

She wanted to see me so badly that she flew out with her boyfriend. We talked and caught up and shopped and had a lot of fun  for two weeks before her parents found out where she had gone and grounded her back to Iowa.

It was only when the two years were up that I finally saw my friends again. I got back to our old house that we bought back with the money from selling our Cali house and Sam got my older sisters old bedroom. She moved in with her fiance in Cali and didn’t come back with us. Amber had a party for us with Lilith and Lorie.

No one had mentioned Jax and I hadn’t even thought about her since mine and Amber’s call three years ago. So, when I wanted to show Sam my favorite diner, I was shocked to see a beautiful, familiar face across the room.